The Sunny Side of Life with Troy Thompson

Send us Fan Mail It all has to start somewhere and for Troy, the love for audio production like The Sunnyside of Life, is rooted in his radio experience starting at the age of 16 at the local radio station working for for his first boss off the farm: Tony Coloff and with local sportscasting legend, Orin Harris. In the episode that ends the total audio experience of The Sunnyside of Life before emb...

Send us Fan Mail This week at Sunnyside, Troy takes a look at the 21st century and decides maybe this shutdown thing will open up doors to efficiencies achievable through artificial intelligence.  And, big news from Sunnyside Farms Studios as November approaches and The Sunnyside of Life adopts video! Plus: Johnny Cash, Bombing La Vagabond, and Happy Halloween! Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This week Troy welcomes Chris Wellendorf to Sunnyside. Chris is the Food Service Director for Forest City Community School District but he's also a musician, an actor, a chef, a brewmaster, and a "cooker"! Find out how this eclectic modern day Renaissance man feeds the masses of youth and keeps on the Sunnyside of Life! Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This week, Troy reviews the Netflix series: "The House of Guinness" and shares his take on revisionist history spanning examples from the re-writing of the Guinness family history for entertainment purposes to the rewriting of American history for post-modern theories and even the theatrical reworking for the Gospels for the purpose of evangelistic entertainment in &quot...

Send us Fan Mail This week, Troy updates listeners on the happenings at Sunnyside and delves into the situation with Dr. Ian Roberts, the Superintendant of Des Moines Public Schools.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Last week at Sunnyside was difficult. There's a void that will linger a great while. As the world considers the loss of Charlie Kirk in one way or another, we consider our own loss: Dennis Burkholder. Heidi and Reed's Dad, Bev's husband, Papa to the grandkids, Troy's father-in-law and friend to so many. He was, truly, the Sunnyside of so many lives.  Support th...

Send us Fan Mail This week on The Sunnyside of Life, Troy sits down with the last guy you want to talk to...the local funeral director! And you know what? He's amazing! Isaiah Schott has been a funeral director for nearly twenty years and when you listen to him, you'll get it. What does it take to be a funeral director? Find out on this episode! For more information about The Sunnyside o...

Send us Fan Mail This week at Sunnyside, Troy visits with Adam Upmeyer, owner of the Garner Lumber and Supply - the local lumber yard that has kept Troy supplied these last few years with great quality lumber and products for all his varied building projects. Get to know what's involved in the small town lumber business these days as well as being the owner of a new area events center. It&apo...

Send us Fan Mail This week at Sunnyside, Troy recounts his speech to the full faculty and staff of the community school district and the significance of that high school diploma based on the stories and recollections of his grandfather who moved into town from the farm to finish his final year and earn that diploma in 1939. For inquiries about a quarter, half or whole steer purchase to be delivere...

Send us Fan Mail Who brings the Sunnyside of Life to small town businesses, community celebrations, and planned events? The local Chamber of Commerce Director, of course! This week, we meet Julianna Burkholder who has been the Executive Director of the Forest City Chamber of Commerce for the last three years. Julianna discusses the small town values, challenges, bright outlook and genuinely unique...

Send us Fan Mail Well, we missed a week while away to Ireland and it just wouldn't be right to talk about the trip without the best National guide in Ireland to help me out - the man who spent 10 days guiding our way through Ireland - Brendan McCarthy. Get to know him and you'll shortly discover why he is truly the Sunnyside of so many traveler's lives.  To find Brendan, visit Love...

Send us Fan Mail It's a short one, but this volunteer spirit with Troy is a little heavy - remember when you see someone who needs help and you gave it? Meh. Do your part and enjoy the reward - stay busy and don't bump your nose! Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This week at Sunnyside, baseball comes to an end, "Henhalla" construction is underway, Troy lost a golf tournament as expected, and there's more to this Epstein List than meets the eye. Why isn't anyone talking about the business end of this? Troy has some ideas... Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This week, after a fantastic Independence Day weekend with family, Troy reflects on what he thinks makes the story of our founding so great - that pioneer spirit of rugged individualism and in keeping with the tenets of our founders, he has some original ideas on how to truly revolutionize property taxes and county governments in Iowa.... Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This may be Troy's best work yet as he absolutely lampoons the Iowa legislative decisions to insist private school athletes be accepted into public school athletics and his Carnac take on what the future may hold for the governor's race next year. You should probably share this one....it's loaded with news flashes, parody bits, and even a brand new song (stick aroun...

Send us Fan Mail He did it! Troy finally purchased steers to finish for private sales and has embarked on his journey to become a cattle baron...with 10 steers. Yes, it's not the size of the herd that counts.... Oh, and did you notice peace is breaking out all over the world these days? Troy has some doubts about that but what does he know, he thinks the modern state of Israel isn't the...

Send us Fan Mail This week on The Sunnyside of Life, Troy recounts his appearance at Vinylfest, Father's Day and an entire slew of observations about the "No Kings" protests, military parades, the Army's birthday, travel bans, the sad situation in Minnesota, ICE raids, Israel and Iran, and an overdue commentary on sign language interpreters....plus, some opinions of the apparel...

Send us Fan Mail This week at Sunnyside, Troy recounts his visit to the sale barn to buy steers....but, it didn't go as planned and California riots against ICE, Trump says he's sending in the National Guard...not sure he can do that, but who knows these days and California considers secession...there's a series of books about that!  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The most frequent question Troy get's is "what podcasts do you listen to?" Well, this week, he answers that question by reviewing the podcasts he listens to regularly. You can probably pick up on a few themes that also find their way into his own format. Want to know what's in his ear? Check out this episode of The Sunnyside of Life! Support the show

Send us Fan Mail It's Memorial Day and we honor and respect and give thanks to those service members throughout our nation's history who have given their lives in awful payment for our enduring freedoms. May today be one of honest reflection, thanks, and prayer for our entire nation. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This week at Sunnyside, the weather turns cold and rainy, garden plans are on hold, it's commencement and state track season again, and a fella stops by Sunnyside needing a hand which leads to a whole conversation about the early front-runners for Iowa Governor: Rob Sand and Randy Feenstra. Troy has thoughts. Get your tickets to Vinylfest here:  https://bomanfineartscenter.or...

Send us Fan Mail This week, Troy recounts his adventures shearing sheep for the first time while helping out his friend, Don Johnson at Heartland Hill. Those Youtube videos make it look so easy - but it's not! Get the details on a full day of shearing dozens....(ok, just five) sheep and the lessons learned. And, of course, it was Mother's Day this weekend so a special shout out to all th...

Send us Fan Mail This week at Sunnyside, Troy highlights the issues with current legislative actions related to tax policies and their unintended (or perhaps, intended) consequences to public schools. Maybe there's an advantage to year-round school; find out why. And, there's a new concert coming June 14th that you're not going to want to miss.  Plus, Troy's dislike of lawn cli...

Send us Fan Mail This week at Sunnyside, May is peeking around the corner as we leave April and endeavor to prepare for summer. Recent work on a rental property inspires the Thompson's too part with some stuff, get different stuff, teach some stuff to the kids and think about stuff like the true meaning of generational wealth, the myths surrounding what that means, and how to instill the most...

Send us Fan Mail This week at Sunnyside, Troy recounts the family trip to Kansas City for Easter. Get his take on Top Golf, visiting the Negro Baseball Leagues Museum, staying at the Rafael Hotel, experiencing KC BBQ lamb, and most importantly, sharing Easter Sunday services with his family at The Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS and the message of victory presented by Rev. Adam Hamilton....